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3232Head of Police’s anti-corruption department launches serious accusations against Interior ministerhttps://www.romaniajournal.ro/society-people/head-of-polices-anti-corruption-department-launches-serious-accusations-against-interior-minister/
https://www.romaniajournal.ro/society-people/head-of-polices-anti-corruption-department-launches-serious-accusations-against-interior-minister/#commentsMon, 22 Apr 2019 11:03:00 +0000https://www.romaniajournal.ro/?p=105950The head of the General Anti-corruption Department (DGA) within the Interior Ministry, Catalin Ionita, has launched serious accusation against his boss, Interior Minister, Carmen Dan, claiming in a letter that the changes the minister plans to make within the DGA are actually targeting him. Minister Carmen has recently announced that there will be some changes […]]]>

The head of the General Anti-corruption Department (DGA) within the Interior Ministry, Catalin Ionita, has launched serious accusation against his boss, Interior Minister, Carmen Dan, claiming in a letter that the changes the minister plans to make within the DGA are actually targeting him.

Minister Carmen has recently announced that there will be some changes operated at the General Anti-corruption Department.

In the letter, Ionita recalled a controversial moment in 2018, when he had been caught in a cross fire between minister Carmen Dan and the premier back then, Mihai Tudose.

The DGA chief said that he did not agree back then to become chief of the Romanian Police, as minister Dan had claimed at that time and that he had accepted this position following pressures.

Minister Dan said on Friday during the Interior Ministry’s 2018 activity report meeting that DGA had focused on other areas of interest than it should be, while announcing her intention to amend the law so that DGA’s activity should be taken back to the expertise area for which it had been set up in the first instance.

Carmen Dan has also referred to the disciplinary investigations within the ministry and to those who are trying to avoid these inquiries „through all kind of red herrings that can point to bad faith, such as the medical leaves”. The minister also announced „the fake invalids” that she had prepared some measures to solve this problem.

In retort, chestor Catalin Ionita has published a letter on Sunday, saying the minister’s announced actions are in fact targeting him. He also revealed he and his family had been put on surveillance. „There are witnesses and video footage in this respect. I informed DGPI (the Interior Ministry’s intelligence service), but absolutely nothing happened, on the contrary”, Ionita said.

He further revealed that he had accepted the job as the chief of the Romanian Police „following pressures”, „but the numerous interference in the General Police Inspectorate’s natural activity used to create permanent tensions”, he argued.

„As they saw I cannot be manipulated, I was forced to write a report with my resignation right before a visit to the U.S. to the UN Mission, telling me that I should go in peace for we’ll see what to do after I get back. Subsequently, I heard from mass media that I had resigned (…) After I got back to DGA the pressures have continued regarding the dismissals of some chiefs of territorial structures, aspects that I will detail with evidence. Among the threats I received there were also the ones related to framing up a criminal file at the DNA, and saying that my PhD thesis has been plagiarised (...),” Ionita stated.

Interior minister Carmen Dan has retorted on Monday morning, arguing that „it is sad that an officer who is invoking honour is using his uniform in this way”.

Carmen Dan said that Ionita had all the needed tools at hand, as DGA director, „to check all these facts that he considered serious.”

Former PM Mihai Tudose at the time referred by Catalin Ionita has also prompted in, accusing Interior minister Carmen Dan of „lying” and that she has created her own agenda within the Interior Ministry.

„Liar, aggressive and incompetent. A perfect description of Dragnea’s person. The Interior minister…Carmen Dan!!! (…)”, Tudose said, adding that Catalin Ionita is also admitting now that Carmen Dan had lied in 2018 on the head of the Romanian Police appointment.

„You probably recall that in January 2018 I asked the resignation of „this lady” (editor note: Interior minister Carmen Dan) for she was lying and she had her own personal agenda within the ministry… Back then, „the party” has been on fire, they called me a misogynist and, obviously, uncovered as Securitate officer and traitor… Now, chestor Catalin Ionita admits that „the lady” has lied and moreover, she has also made a series of abuses and pressures that have nothing to do with her position as Interior minister…This is how „Dragnea/PSD person looks like. This sample of pathetic character is organising elections…Young generations of policemen are taking oath before her…standing still before a liar, who seems intangible because Dady Dragnea gave her a PSD T-shirt! (…),” Tudose said.

]]>https://www.romaniajournal.ro/society-people/head-of-polices-anti-corruption-department-launches-serious-accusations-against-interior-minister/feed/1Head of Romanian Orthodox Church: If we carry on abortions, we’ll perish as nationhttps://www.romaniajournal.ro/society-people/head-of-romanian-orthodox-church-if-we-carry-on-abortions-well-perish-as-nation/
Thu, 28 Mar 2019 10:57:40 +0000https://www.romaniajournal.ro/?p=104431Patriarch Daniel, the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR) has voiced concern in his speech on Annunciation over the demographic decline in Romania, warning that we’ll perish as a nation of the population carries on abortions, basilica.ro reported. “If we, as Romanian people, carry on abortions, some millions from 1960 up to the present, […]]]>

Patriarch Daniel, the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR) has voiced concern in his speech on Annunciation over the demographic decline in Romania, warning that we’ll perish as a nation of the population carries on abortions, basilica.ro reported.

“If we, as Romanian people, carry on abortions, some millions from 1960 up to the present, we’ll perish as a nation. We are on a demographic decline,” the Patriarch told his sermon on Annunciation mass.

He also reminded about the „March for Life”, held in March in the past years, which has become „very popular”.

“We were happy about he March for Life last Saturday. Most of those attending this march in favour of life and in favour or pregnant women are youngsters, but also older people. The March for Life has a spiritual aspect, as abortion in the canon church law is called infanticide, but the march has also a social purpose, namely that less and less children are born.”

]]>Woman accidentally shot in the head by policeman in Reghinhttps://www.romaniajournal.ro/society-people/woman-accidentally-shot-in-the-head-by-policeman-in-reghin/
Sun, 10 Feb 2019 11:04:14 +0000http://www.romaniajournal.ro/?p=101870A woman from Reghin, Mures county, has been accidentally shot in the head by a policeman who was chasing a runaway driver on Friday night. The victim has been operated in Cluj and is in critical condition. Neurosurgeons say that her condition is „slightly favorable”, and they are to gradually wake her up from the […]]]>

A woman from Reghin, Mures county, has been accidentally shot in the head by a policeman who was chasing a runaway driver on Friday night. The victim has been operated in Cluj and is in critical condition.

Neurosurgeons say that her condition is „slightly favorable”, and they are to gradually wake her up from the induced coma.

The incident occurred in Reghin on Friday night when several traffic policemen tried to stop a driver in traffic. However, the driver ignored the traffic policemen signals and went on driving.

So, the police officers started chasing the car. Near Alunis locality, the car was spotted again and tried to make the driver stop, again without any luck.

A police officer from the squad shot at the car, but, unfortunately, the bullet bounced and hit a 59-year-old woman from the locality who was passing by the area.

The policemen dropped the pursuit action and gave the woman the first aid, also asking for the ambulance.

The victim was rushed to the Emergency Hospital in Mures, then transferred to the Neurosurgery Hospital in Cluj-Napoca.

The runaway driver was eventually caught in Rastolita locality and was remanded.

Judiciary sources told mass media the driver who accidentally shot the woman is 48 years old and used his gun as the car was speeding to the police squad.

]]>New head named at the helm of the Bucharest airport companyhttps://www.romaniajournal.ro/business/new-head-named-at-the-helm-of-the-bucharest-airport-company/
Fri, 01 Feb 2019 13:55:27 +0000http://www.romaniajournal.ro/?p=101603The managing board of the Bucharest airport company, which includes Otopeni/Henri Coanda and Baneasa/Aurel Vlaicy airports, has appointed a new general manager, Gabriel Stoe, who is thus replacing the interim head Traian Panait. Gabriel Stoe, aged 45, is economist and has held several positions within the airport company, including as CFO, and also within TAROM, […]]]>

The managing board of the Bucharest airport company, which includes Otopeni/Henri Coanda and Baneasa/Aurel Vlaicy airports, has appointed a new general manager, Gabriel Stoe, who is thus replacing the interim head Traian Panait.

Gabriel Stoe, aged 45, is economist and has held several positions within the airport company, including as CFO, and also within TAROM, where he was interim general manager and CFO. He was also interim director at TAROM, after Christian Heinzmann’s dismissal in 2016.

Following some controversial acquisitions Okayed by Stoe while working at the airport company and at TAROM, he was criminally investigated in several files, some of them being sent to court. More precisely, Stoe was charged with approving illegal payments for contracts signed with UTI company, as Digi24 reported.

]]>FinMin asks for ANAF head’s dismissal. PM names a woman as the new national revenue authority chiefhttps://www.romaniajournal.ro/politics/finmin-asks-for-anaf-heads-dismissal-pm-names-a-woman-as-the-new-national-revenue-authority-chief/
Thu, 03 Jan 2019 13:46:55 +0000http://www.romaniajournal.ro/?p=100205Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici has asked PM Viorica Dancila to dismiss the head of the Fiscal Administration National Agency (ANAF), Ionut Misa. “We hope a decision is taken as soon as possible and is published in the Official Gazette“, Teodorovici confirmed on Thursday. “2019 is a year with many challenges, and ANAF is the main […]]]>

Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici has asked PM Viorica Dancila to dismiss the head of the Fiscal Administration National Agency (ANAF), Ionut Misa.

“We hope a decision is taken as soon as possible and is published in the Official Gazette“, Teodorovici confirmed on Thursday.

“2019 is a year with many challenges, and ANAF is the main public institution in Romania that must change its conduct in the economy radically. It must prove it applies a fair, honest and equal to the tax payers”, the Finance minister argued.

The minister added that ANAF must meet some criteria in 2019, among which there are the reform of the entire tax administration, the computerisation of the system and the simplification of the way the tax payers are relating to one another, as well as a better tax collection.

FinMin Teodorovici has repeatedly blamed the ANAF chief for the low collecting level on certain parts: VAT or prejudice recovery.

However, overall, the national revenue body-ANAF- had a good year in terms of receipts, but they saw a capping in October and November.

“As for the collecting perspective, it should consider all mandatory elements for ANAF, a low collecting rate on VAT, growing excise duty share, customs taxes. You will see a package of very clear measures for 2019 so that our international partners should see the way state works. I don’t know if somebody must be ever relaxed in a position involving the state budget,” Teodorovici used to say in November.

The Finance minister had previously stated that the main factor to assess Ionut Misa’s performance is the takings plan carried out by ANAF.

PM signs the decree dismissing Ionut Misa, names a woman at ANAF helm

Shortly after the Finance Minister confirmed he had asked for Ionut Misa’s dismissal, PM Viorica Dancila has Okayed Teodorovici’s request and signed the decree appointing Mihaela Triculescu as the new ANAF chief.

Mihaela Triculescu is an economist, with an expertise in insolvencies in the past three years, providing insolvency management for several companies.

“The new ANAF president is economist with a master degree in “Management assessment” studies at the Economics Faculty in Craiova”, the Government announced in a press release.

Mass reported that Mihaela Triculescu has tens of trials pending in court at Dolj Tribunal and Craiova Court of Appeal, where she is in legal battle with the Revenue Authority of Dolj (ANAF Dolj).

Moreover, she failed to pass the oral test to join the anti-fraud inspector corps in the city in 2015. Triculescu explained that she had undergone several recruiting tests to take an anti-fraud inspector position during 2014-2016. “Every time I obtained the highest grades in the written tests, ranking even first and second, but I was told at the oral examinations that I was not fit for the <profile> required by the Anti-fraud Department,” she said, as quoted by Adevarul daily.

]]>Raed Arafat reports growing number of people without symptoms going to the emergency room, denies danger of the tear gas effectshttps://www.romaniajournal.ro/society-people/raed-arafat-reports-growing-number-of-people-without-symptoms-going-to-the-emergency-room-denies-danger-of-the-tear-gas-effects/
Thu, 16 Aug 2018 09:00:18 +0000https://www.romaniajournal.ro/?p=94123The Department for Emergency Situations (DSU), has issued a press release, saying the substances used during the gendarmes’ intervention in Victoriei Square on August 10 are according to the international standards. The head of the department, Raed Arafat told those who has been exposed to the tear gas not to go to the doctor for […]]]>

The Department for Emergency Situations (DSU), has issued a press release, saying the substances used during the gendarmes’ intervention in Victoriei Square on August 10 are according to the international standards. The head of the department, Raed Arafat told those who has been exposed to the tear gas not to go to the doctor for routine checks, but only if they have concerning symptoms.

Arafat denied accusations that DSU „would be on the Gendarmerie’s side” and that the press release „would be a political one”. He announced that following the violence during Diaspora rally, 450 people received medical aid from the SMURD crews, 290 with acute symptoms of tear gas exposure. 70 have been taken to the hospital, while nine remained hospitalized for various problems.

Arafat also explained they had issued that press release for doctors from the Floreasca Hospital’s emergency room had notified the DSU that more people are coming to the emergency room without symptoms, asking to be checked and had their blood tests done.

„It is clear that when you have concerning symptoms of problems you are recommended to go to the doctor. But routine checks are not necessary, blood tests have nothing to prove, especially 5 days after considering that yesterday, August 15, the number of people coming for a check started growing, but no person needed hospitalization,” Arafat said.

He underlined that the growing number of those who went to the doctors after attending the Diaspora rally was due to a psychiatrist doctor’s Facebook post, which presented all aspects related to expose to the tear gas and the medium and long term.

„Unfortunately, the intention to comfort the population that doesn’t have symptoms or signs, considering that over 100,000 people were in Victoriei Square that night, has been misinterpreted by some people as being diversion and disinformation on our behalf. The more absurd interpretation is that we are on the Gendarmerie’s side against the population or that we have followed political orders,” said Arafat.

He also mentioned that DSU has consulted with the producers of the tear gas used during the intervention last Friday to be sure about the composition of the substance that has been used.

“I personally talked to one of the renowned toxicology experts from New York and he confirmed me what we have reported in the press release,” the DSU head said, reiterating that the tear gas was made according to the European and international standards and that effects such as eye, respiratory tract and skin irritation, are short term ones, except of the situation when exposure is on long term and, particularly, if it takes places in an enclosed space and not in the open air.

]]>Supreme Court head notifies Prosecutor’s Office over SRI protocolhttps://www.romaniajournal.ro/society-people/supreme-court-head-notifies-prosecutors-office-over-sri-protocol/
Thu, 21 Jun 2018 09:50:12 +0000https://www.romaniajournal.ro/?p=91568The head of the Supreme Court (The High Court of Cassation and Justice), Cristina Tarcea has notified the General Prosecutor’s Office over the protocol concluded by the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) with the Prosecutor’s Office and the Supreme Court, arguing the protocol would have been signed amid forgery deeds. Tarcea’s action comes after the former […]]]>

The head of the Supreme Court (The High Court of Cassation and Justice), Cristina Tarcea has notified the General Prosecutor’s Office over the protocol concluded by the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) with the Prosecutor’s Office and the Supreme Court, arguing the protocol would have been signed amid forgery deeds.

Tarcea’s action comes after the former head of the Supreme Court, Nicolae Popa, has said early this week he hadn’t been the one to have signed the protocol with SRI, arguing he retired before the document had been signed.

Cristina Tarcea said she had suggested Nicolae Popa to notify the Prosecutor’s Office on this issue, mentioning that if Popa doesn’t do it, she will.

„We have studied the documents together, Nicolae Popa has also carefully studied the protocol and he told me that, although this is his signature on the protocol, he doesn’t remind when and if he has signed it. He says he hasn’t signed the protocol and suspects his protocol signature had been applied on the document by some manipulations later on. We shall see. I suggested him to file a notification to the Prosecutor’s Office. If he doesn’t notify the prosecutors I will. It’s simple to check by expertise if this is an original signature or not,” Tarcea used to say on Tuesday.

She added that the documents signed by Nicolae Popa are archived after September 1, when he claims he retired.

]]>Prosecutor section within CSM Okays Felix Banila as DIICOT headhttps://www.romaniajournal.ro/society-people/prosecutor-section-within-csm-okays-felix-banila-as-diicot-head/
Tue, 05 Jun 2018 13:03:08 +0000https://www.romaniajournal.ro/?p=90747The prosecutor section of the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) has Okayed the proposal that prosecutor Felix Banila should take over the helm of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), judicial sources told local media on Tuesday. The opinion of the CSM’s body is consultative and will be sent to the Justice […]]]>

The prosecutor section of the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) has Okayed the proposal that prosecutor Felix Banila should take over the helm of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), judicial sources told local media on Tuesday.

The opinion of the CSM’s body is consultative and will be sent to the Justice minister, who will further send it to the President.

Three weeks ago, Justice Minister, Tudorel Toader sent to the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) the proposal for the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) top position, Oliver Felix Banila, in order to get the positive opinion. Banila is prosecutor with the Prosecutor’s Office upon the Bacau Court.

Banila competed for the DIICOT top position with the incumbent chief prosecutor, Daniel Horodniceanu, whose mandate will end on May 19.

The proposal will be subsequently sent to President Klaus Ioahnnis.

Felix Banila said after the proposal that he hadn’t worked within DIICOT so far, but he had investigated files of large violence, criminal groups and members of the organized crime. Asked what are the challenges for this position, Banila said: „To establish a united team which should give much better results”.

The incumbent DIICOT head, Daniel Horodniceanu, who lost the race to Felix Banila, stated that he doesn’t know what had been his foe’s advantages, also adding he wants to know how he has harmed DIICOT. „I have no idea what were his advantages. Definitely, the minister will present the criteria underlying his choice and I am very curious to hear them, as well. The Justice minister has never reproached me anything, on the contrary, we had a good and fair principled relation.“

]]>Head of DNA Ploiesti, prosecuted for allegedly forging witness listshttps://www.romaniajournal.ro/society-people/head-of-dna-ploiesti-prosecuted-for-allegedly-forging-witness-lists/
Mon, 21 May 2018 18:59:27 +0000https://www.romaniajournal.ro/?p=90062Lucian Onea, the chief prosecutor of the National Anti-corruption Directorate Ploiesti, is criminally prosecuted by the General Prosecutor Office, next to prosecutor from Ploiesti, Mircea Negulescu, judicial sources told local media. The case is related to forging some lists with witnesses within an investigation. Several people investigated by Onea and Negulescu in the past have […]]]>

Lucian Onea, the chief prosecutor of the National Anti-corruption Directorate Ploiesti, is criminally prosecuted by the General Prosecutor Office, next to prosecutor from Ploiesti, Mircea Negulescu, judicial sources told local media. The case is related to forging some lists with witnesses within an investigation.

Several people investigated by Onea and Negulescu in the past have filed complaints against the two prosecutors. One of them is former deputy Vlad Cosma.

Cosma has filed a complaint in February against prosecutors Alfred Savu, Lucian Onea and Mircea Negulescu, accusing them of compromising the interests of justice, of abusive investigation, unjust repression, abuse of office and setting up an organized criminal group.

]]>Oliver Felix Banila, proposed by Justice Minister to take over DIICOT top positionhttps://www.romaniajournal.ro/society-people/law-crime/oliver-felix-banila-proposed-by-justice-minister-to-take-over-diicot-top-position/
Tue, 15 May 2018 07:50:04 +0000https://www.romaniajournal.ro/?p=89645Justice Minister, Tudorel Toader, has sent to the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) the proposal for the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) top position, Oliver Felix Banila, in order to get the positive opinion. Banila is prosecutor with the Prosecutor’s Office upon the Bacau Court, stiri.tvr.ro informs. Banila competed for the DIICOT […]]]>

Justice Minister, Tudorel Toader, has sent to the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) the proposal for the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) top position, Oliver Felix Banila, in order to get the positive opinion. Banila is prosecutor with the Prosecutor’s Office upon the Bacau Court, stiri.tvr.ro informs.

Banila competed for the DIICOT top position with the incumbent chief prosecutor, Daniel Horodniceanu, whose mandate will end on May 19.

The proposal will be subsequently sent to President Klaus Ioahnnis.

Felix Banila said after the proposal that he hadn’t worked within DIICOT so far, but he had investigated files of large violence, criminal groups and members of the organized crime. Asked what are the challenges for this position, Banila said: „To establish a united team which should give much better results”.

The incumbent DIICOT head, Daniel Horodniceanu, who lost the race to Felix Banila, stated that he doesn’t know what had been his foe’s advantages, also adding he wants to know how he has harmed DIICOT. „I have no idea what were his advantages. Definitely, the minister will present the criteria underlying his choice and I am very curious to hear them, as well. The Justice minister has never reproached me anything, on the contrary, we had a good and fair principled relation.“